Zonbu is a technology company that markets a computing platform which combines a web-centric service, a small form factorPC, and an open source based software architecture. Zonbu was founded by Alain Rossmann (previously Founder and CEO of Openwave) and Gregoire Gentil (previously co-founder of Twingo Systems).

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The first-generation Zonbox hardware was the eBox-4854[1] sold by DMP Electronics of Taiwan. Called the Zonbu Mini, it was a nettop computer measuring 6 ¾” × 4 ¾” × 2 ¼”. It is flash based, fanless, and thus effectively silent. The official specifications for the device in 2007 were:[2]

The Zonbu OS is a customized version of Linux based on the Gentoo distribution using the Xfce desktop environment. It is geared towards non-technical users, and the user interface focuses more on simplicity than advanced features.

Zonbu comes pre-loaded with a number of software applications.[5] These include the Firefoxweb browser, OpenOffice productivity suite and Skype IP phone service, and 30 casual games.

With the default OS, the user is not allowed to install any third-party software. The default set of applications is supposed to fit the needs of non-technical users or of a second home PC. However, Zonbu provides instructions to unlock the operating system and install additional software.[6] The procedure is technical and intended for a minority of users (Standard for many linux users, unlocking GRUB, root, and install with emerge/portage).